What were Nixon's motivations for Detente? Please help?

detente simply means the easing of strained relationship between countries...and if you are in a world war II class, nixon had nothing to do with that war.i think he served, but no political control

he was way too young.

when you refer to nixon and detente you think of china certainly nothing to do with the second world war.

we eased relations with the soviet union during the war as they originally were fighting on germany's side and then joined the allied forces again germany and italy

My first reaction was, "Gee, they're over there aiming nuclear tipped missiles at us! Why wouldn't we want a lessening of tension?" But looking closer... Brezhnev wanted Detente because the cost of building those missiles was bleeding the USSR white. Nixon wanted it because of the cost of the Vietnam War and to free up money for social programs. Western Europe wanted it because it would open the possibility of trade with the Eastern Block countries.

In the end, it looks more financial than ideological. Money makes the world go round!

Edit: Fitz's comment about detente happening during WW2 is a little misleading. We were allied with the USSR during WW2, but it was never called detente. That happened during the early 70's and was very much Nixon's baby, as was thawing relations with China.